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3 Sheet s Sl1eet 1.

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' W. F. GLIDDEN.

I BICYCLE WHEEL BELT. No.605,1 81. v Patented June 7, 1898.

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W. P. GLIDDEN. BICYCLE WHEEL BELT.

No. 605,181} Patented June 7, 1898.

Witnesses. I .Znitnior fad mw'h Y 1 fltto'r zey UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFIICE.

WILLIAM F IEMON GLIDDEN, OF INGERSOLL, CANADA.

BICYCLE-WHEEL BELT.

SIFIECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,181, dated Jane 7, 1898.

Application filed anuary 23,1896. Serial No. 576,618. -(No model.)

To all whom, it: nmy concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FREMONT GLIDDEN, a citizen. of the United States, and at present a rcsiden L of In gersolhin the county of Oxford, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have interim-'1 new and useful llicyole-\Vheel lleit and Tension Device 'lherefor, of which the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact description.

'lhisinvention relates to abelt and tension device therefor which is particularly adapted to be used in connection with bicycles and the like, but it may be used with advantage in any place or position or in any machine where a similar belt is required; and it consists of a belt composed of a flexible protecting-strap, band, or shield, of flexible extensions, one end of which is secured to or formed integral with the edge of said shield, a series of said extensions extending laterally from both edges of said shield and provided with loops or eyes at their outer ends, and cords, one of which extends through the loops or eyes of each series of said flexible extensions at each side of the shield, and it also consists of the improved construction and combination therewith of means for regulating the tension of said belt on the tire of the bicycle-wheel or other device in connection with which it may be used, the object contemplated being the provision of a simple and cfiicient device for avoidingand completely preventing the tires of bicyclewhcels from being punctured or otherwise injured.

In order that m y invention may be readily understood, I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings in connection with a bicycle.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a bicycle, showing the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan View of a short portion of my improved belt before being placed in position. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line a :c' of Fi 2. Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail perspective view of a short portion of my improved belt, showing its form after being placed in position. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 y of Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and? are enlarged detail perspective views of the mechanism 4 for regulating the tension on the front and rear Wheels, respectively. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the braces and connections. Fi 9 is an enlarged detail perspective View of the semicylindrical boar-in".-

l3 l3 designate flexible extensions formed of I rawhide, catgnt, or other suitable material, one end of which flexible extensions B is socured to or formed integral with the edge of the shield A, and a series of these flexible extensions 13 extend laterally from both edges of said shield, as shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying, drawings, and secured to or formed integral with the outer end of these extensions 13 are the loops or eyes 13'.

C O designate cords formed of rawhide, catgnt, or other suitable material, one of which cords 0 extends through the loops or eyes 13 of each of the series of flexible extensions B 13 at each side of the shield A, also shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

E E designate standards, the lower ends of which are rigidly secured to the fork sides D D of the bicycle by the clasps cl.

I I designate braces, which are also rigidly secured to the fork sides D D by the clasps (P. The other ends of these standards E E and braces I I are hung on the shaft G and are rigidly held in place thereon between the nuts 12. n

F designates a bearing formed with the curved face f and with the end flanges or shoulders f, and this hearing F is pivoted eccentrically on the shaft G.

K designates a plate of springsteel or other suitable material provided with the flanges or shoulders K one end of which spring K is rigidly secured to the braces I, and this spring K restson the curved face f of the bearing F, as shown in Fig. 6.

L designates an antifriction wheel or pulley which rotates freely on'the axle M, and the latter is supported in the frame N, and said frame I is secured to and near the outer end of the spring K and adjacent to the bicycle-tire by the thumb-nut Z), en gagin g with the screw-threaded shank a, the latter being secured to or formed integral with the frame N. The shank a projects through a corresponding opening in the spring K, and the latter is clamped to the frame N by the nut 12', and the flanges K arc formed on the spring K to come opposite to the frame N to hold the latter in place and to prevent it from accidcnt-ally turning on the shank a, and this frame .LT is provided with two or more bearing-notches N to permit wheels of different diameter to be used in said frame.

11 designates an operating -rod provided with the teeth a", one end of which rod is pivotally secured to the bearing F, and d designates a standard provided with the slo or opening 0", through which the rod b pro;- jects. This standard 0' is provided with a screw threaded shank c, which extends through corresponding openings in the spring K and the braces I, where the latter cross one another, and is held in place by a nut n screwing on the screw-threaded shank c, and when the nut 72 on the lower end of the standard c is tightened the spring K is rig' idly secured to the braces lloetween the shoul'; der e on the standard 0' and the braces I by said nut n This will form one convenient means for rigidly holding the fixed end of the spring K.

K designates a spring similar to the spring K, the fixed end of which spring K is rigidly secured by the clamp (l tothe inclined tube O of the bicycle-frame.

L designates an antifriction wheel or pulley, N a frame, and M an axle attached to the spring K the same asthe similar devices are secured to the spring K.

F designates a bearing constructed similarly to the bearing F, which bearing F is pivotally supported eccentrically on a shaft G, having hearings in the hangers I, the latler being rigidly clamped or otherwise secured to the inclined tube O'of theframe.

b designates an opcrating-rod provided with teeth a similar to the rod b and said operating-rod If is secured .to the bearing F and in the same manner as the rod 11 is secured to the bearing F, and said rod 1) extends through slots or openings 1) in flanges b and I) of the clamps d and (1 the latter being secured to the tube 0 of the bicycle-frame, and these rods 11 and b are held, as well as the bearings F and F and springs K and K, respectively connected therewith at the position to which they may be adjusted by engaging the teeth a and a, respectively, with one of theedges of the standard 0 and flange 1", respectively, around the openings therein, the tension of the springs K and K on the rods b and 11 holding said teeth a and a respectively, in contact with the flange b and standard a, respeeti vel y, to avoid and prevent their'accidcntal disengagement.

\Vhen properly adj ustcd onthc bicycle, the springs K and K rest on the bearings I and F respectively, and said springs are securely held in proper position from moving laterally independent of said bearin gs by the shoulders or projections f.

\Vhen adjusted as described, the antifriction wheels or pulleys M and M are held in line with the front and rear bicycle-wheels R and R, respectively.

Before placing the shield A in position to protect the tire from being punctured or otherwise injured the teeth a, and a of the operating-rods b and 11 respectively, are disengaged from the edges of the standard 0 and flange Z1, surrounding the openings therein, to permit the antifriction wheels or pulleys L and L to be adjusted as near as possible adjacentto the tire. The cords C O are then inserted in and extended through the loops 13' of the flexible connections 13, as shown in Fig. 2. v The belt thus formed is then placed on the. tire around the wheel and over the antifriction-pullcy and the ends of the shield united by suitable means. The operating-rod and bearing are then adj ustcd, and the latter eccentrically to act on the spring K and pulley L to cause the latter to take up any slack in the shield A, after which the cords C C are drawn taut. This curves the shield A over the outer face of the tire until the cords C are about parallel with the metallic rim of the wheel, and these cords are held in this position by a hook secured to one end engaging with holes in the other end of said cord or in any manner or by any means found most suitable orconvcnicnt. 'lhiscausessheshield A to cover and rest on the tread of the tire in order to protect the latter.

After the belts for both wheels have been placed in position, as described, by adjusting the operating-rods and 11 the'bearings 1 and F respectively, are adjusted to act eccentrically on the springs K and K, respectively, to adjust the outer end of the springs K and K and pulleys L and L from the bicycle-wheels R and R to give the required tension to the belts passing over said spindle M by the belt to permit the pulley L to automaticali y keep in line with the wheel if the latter should not be hung perfectly true, and, as shown in Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings, the antifriction wheels or pulleys L have a wider periphery than the bicycle-tire, so that as the belt leaves the tire and passes over the pulley I i and onto the tire again said cords C will be slightly spread by said pulley L, and thereby be prevented from chafing or injuring the tire in any way when passing from the tire and over the pulley L and onto the tire again.

lly constructing the belt as described the shield A fits on the tread of the tire and the cords C being connected to the shield A by the flexible extensions 13, but being permitted to move lengthwise through the loops B independent of the shield, the belt fits snugly on the tire without being puckered at the edges, whereas if the belt was made in one continuous web or piece it would pucker when placed in position and appear unseemly, as well as gather sand, &c., while the bicycle was traveling along the road, whereas the edges of my improved belt being open all of which is avoided and completely prevented, and a belt form ed as described automatically adapts itself to tires of different diameter or diameters, as well as to tires of different diameter or width in cross-section, and to assist in accomplishing this result the pulley or roller L is made interchangeable, so that another roller of larger or smaller diameter and formed with a wider or narrower periphery or outer face may be used to facilitate the adjustment of one belt to the tires of bicyclewheels of different diameter.

While I prefer the construction herein shown and described, I do not wish to confine or limit myself to the details thereof, as they may be modified in various ways withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention; nor do I wish to confine myself to the use of this invention in connection with a bicycle, as there are various other machines to which it may be applied with equal advantage.

Having thus described my invention, I claim I. In abicycle-wheel belt, a flexible shield which fits snugly over the tire of the wheel, and two series of straps secured to the shield, and extending laterally thereto, combined with cords which connect the outer ends of the extensions at a suitable distance from the edge of the shield, substantially as shown.

2. Abelt composed of the shield, A, straps, B, provided with the loops or eyes, B, and the cords, C, in combination with and extending around a wheel-tire and over an antifriction roller or pulley, and means for supporting the latter, the periphery or outer face of the antifriction roller or pulley being wider than the periphery or outer face of the wheel-tire for the purpose of spreading the belt as it passes from and on to the wheel-tire to prevent the latter from being rubbed or injured, substantially as set forth.

3. In a bicycle, a belt, the front wheel around which the belt extends, and an antifriction-roller arranged over the wheel, and ove which roller the belt passes, combined with a supporting-spring for the roller, and

which spring extends over the top of the wheel; an cccentrically-pivotcd hearing which supports the spring at a point in between its two ends, and by which the tension of the roller upon the belt is regulated; and means connected to the inner end of the spring for sccurin g it in position, substantially as shown.

4. A belt consisting of a shieid, A, straps. 1 provided with the loops or eyes, I3, and cords, 0, extending around the tread of the wheel-tire and over the antifriction roller or pulley, in combination with a spring, and an eccentrically-pivotec'l bearing and means for supporting and operating the latter,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a bicycle, the front forks D, D, the standards E, E, secured thereto at their lower ends and projecting npwardl y, and the braces I, I, connected both to the forks at one end, and to the standards at the other, combined with a shaft G which passes through both the braces and the forks, a spring, means for seouring it to the bicycle-frame, a roller supported by its front end, a bolt, the front wheel of the bicycle around which and pulley, the belt passes; an eccentric bearing placed upon the shaft, a suitable support for the front of the eccentric bearing, and a support for the forks I, which is attached at its upper end to the support for the bearing, substantially as shown.

6. The front forks D, D, the standards E, E, secured thereto at their lower ends, the braces I, I, secured to the forks at their rear ends, and to the upper ends of the braces at their front ones, the rod G which connects the front ends of the braces and the front ends of the standards, combined with an eccentric bearing that is pivoted upon the rod at its rear end, a support for the front edge of the hearing, a support which is secured to the forks at its lower end, and connects at its upper end with the support for the front edge of the bearing, a spring that rests upon the eccentric bearing and has its rear end secured to the forks by means of the vertical support, a pulley attached to the outer end of the spring, and a belt which passes around the front wheel of the bicycle, and pulley, substantially as shown.

7. In a bicycle-frame, the standards E sccured thereto at their lower ends, the braces I secured to the frame at their rear ends, and the rod G which connects the front ends of the braces and the upper ends of the standards, combined with an eccentrically-pivoted bearing placed on the rod; a spring resting upon the bearing, the pulley secured to the outer end of the spring, a support which rises from the braces and serves to connect the inner end of the spring to the braces, substantially as described.

Tlhe,bicycle-frame, the standards E, the braces I, ,and clasps for securing the standards and/the brac to the frame, and the rod G for rig dly connecting the ends of the standards am. the braces, combined with an eccencombined with a fiat spring that has its rear end secured to the braces, a roller secured to its outer end, a belt which passes around the roller, the rod 0 which passes through the spring and secures it to the braces, and the rod 1) connected to the bearing and provided with means at its upper end for holding the bearing in any desired position substantially as shown.

- WILLIAM FREMONT GLIDDEN. In presence of- J N0. B. JACKSON,

J AMES '1. BOWLING. 

